Authorities have paused their search for two Florida boaters after their fishing boat was discovered drifting with no one onboard.
The U.S. Coast Guard announced it would suspend efforts to locate Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, at sunset on Monday, Dec. 22, several days after they disappeared.
According to the Coast Guard, crews and partner agencies searched by air and sea across roughly 6,700 square miles. Officials said conditions during the operation included winds around 10 mph and 3-foot seas.
“The Coast Guard diligently searched with our pilots, boat forces, cutter crews, and numerous partners,” Lt. Amy Harrison, a search and rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, said in a statement. “We saturated an incredibly large search area but, unfortunately, were unable to locate the two missing men.”
The men were last known to have left for a fishing trip on Friday, Dec. 19, aboard a 42-foot Freeman departing from a home in Fort Myers, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office previously said in a Facebook post. The sheriff’s office launched an urgent search the following day for the “endangered adults.”
In its latest update, the Coast Guard said an Air Station Clearwater helicopter crew located the boat adrift about 70 miles west of Fort Myers around 12 a.m. Saturday. The vessel was later taken back to Station Fort Myers Beach for further investigation.
After reviewing the circumstances, the agency said it made the “difficult decision” to call off active search operations.
“There is no harder decision than suspending a search,” Capt. Corrie Sergent, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, said in a statement. “I am incredibly grateful for the crews, partners, and volunteers across this community who executed this massive search with the utmost professionalism, persistence, and compassion. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Mr. Spivey and Mr. Billmaier during this extremely difficult time.”
Billmaier worked as an attorney with Shiner Law Group in Florida, according to the firm’s website. The company released a statement on Monday about Billmaier and Spivey, who was also a lawyer.
“On behalf of everyone at Shiner Law Group, we are deeply saddened by the disappearance of Brandon and his uncle, Randy,” attorney David Shiner said. “Brandon is a valued member of our firm and someone we care about tremendously, both as a colleague and as our friend. Brandon is an exceptional person and a great lawyer, and we are heartbroken.”
“Our hearts are with Brandon’s family and loved ones, and with everyone who is anxiously waiting for answers,” Shiner added.
In a Monday interview with ABC affiliate WWSB, Spivey’s son, also named Randall, recalled the moment he learned only the boat had been found.
“It was the worst few hours of my life and the worst phone call of my life,” he said. “I know my mom would agree if you could have heard how she reacted to that. I wouldn’t wish that feeling on anybody. It’s pretty indescribable.”
The Coast Guard said the FBI is leading the missing persons investigation.
